TheSamba.com :: View topic - T3 Syncro (Vanagon) Rear Shock Absorber Alternative

Mon Jul 28, 2014 1:56 am

As usual, when I find something that works, I try to let people know and here is another.

An easy swap over for the rear of the T3 Syncro is from the LandRover Discovery 2 (1998-2004).

The standard rear shock absorber is almost identical to the standard rear sock absorbers fitted to the T3 Syncro.

They both have the same overall length, compressed and open.

They both have a similar outer diameters.

They both use M12 bolts to fit although the Disco 2 mounting tube is 1mm longer than the T3 Syncro so you have to open the mounting flange a little, not hard to do.

I've been running the Pedders 9503 on Limey for a while now as have other Syncro owners. Other friends have bought stock length cheap Disco 2 rear shocks from eBay (these can be as cheap as £40 for a pair!) and had very good results.

Another very good bit of news is that you can buy +2 (that's 2 inches longer than stock) off the shelf as well. Terra Firma offer these for as little as £35 each new) so you can see that the cost is vastly different from what is available within the Syncro market at present.

There is more! If you're going all out, you can buy +3, +4 and +5 rear shocks for the Disco 2 again off the shelf!!

The damping rate is very similar to the T3 and with such a large range of rear shock absorbers on the market for the Disco 2, you're sure to find something that you're happy with.

As people cotton on to this info, I hope that you will report back with your findings as to what is good/bad etc.

Oh, just in case someone asks, the damping rates were compared by the technical boffins at Pedders R&D in Australia to a stock Syncro rear shock absorber that I sent over for testing... so it's not just me saying 'yeah they'll fit mate!'

One word of warning...

If you put longer rear shock absorbers on, your rear CV joints will be able to move further than they were designed to by VW. I would suggest that if you want to go +2, you fit Porsche 944 CV joints (which have more travel but may not be any stronger than standard) or upgrade to 108mm CV joints as fitted to the Syncro 16.

I know that the Disco 2 is not a very common vehicle in the States but over here... they're all over 'de place :)

Have fun out there :D

MG

Mon Jul 28, 2014 3:09 am

Great work. Thank you!

Mon Jul 28, 2014 4:45 am

SyncroGhia wrote:

They both use M14 bolts to fit although the Disco 2 mounting tube is 1mm longer than the T3 Syncro so you have to open the mounting flange a little, not hard to do.

Is there any chance that you have a pic of this mod? Is it the tube at the bottom of the shock bushing that's is too long?

SyncroGhia wrote:
I know that the Disco 2 is not a very common vehicle in the States but over here... they're all over 'de place :)

There are quite a few in my part of the country. Perhaps not as much as the UK but broken ones litter the landscape here. Once anything major stops functioning, they end up in a breaker yards.

Just curious. What's the difference between the Disco 1 vs. Disco 2 rear dampers? I have a Bowler Tomcat sitting in storage which I'm told is based on Disco 1 suspension. Saw the Bilstein reservoir shocks on there and got some funny ideas about borrowing them.😉

I'm installing one of those lift kits from Finland and would rather use longer shocks than the shock extenders the vendor provided. My Syncro is a 16" so CV's shouldn't be a major issue.

Mon Jul 28, 2014 4:50 am

Goed info :)

Mon Jul 28, 2014 6:27 am

BenT Syncro wrote: SyncroGhia wrote:

They both use M12 bolts to fit although the Disco 2 mounting tube is 1mm longer than the T3 Syncro so you have to open the mounting flange a little, not hard to do.

Is there any chance that you have a pic of this mod? Is it the tube at the bottom of the shock bushing that's is too long?

It's both top and bottom tubes that are 1mm longer. There is enough 'give' in both top and bottom brackets to be able to accommodate this 1mm, in fact you'll probably find that some of the replacements available in the market place are already 0.5mm away from standard. There's no photo to show as it's not a modification, you push the shock absorber in if you get me. You wouldn't know about it looking if I hadn't told you and you would also dismiss it as 'oh it's a bit tighter' when you fitted it.

SyncroGhia wrote:
I know that the Disco 2 is not a very common vehicle in the States but over here... they're all over 'de place :)

There are quite a few in my part of the country. Perhaps not as much as the UK but broken ones litter the landscape here. Once anything major stops functioning, they end up in a breaker yards.

Just curious. What's the difference between the Disco 1 vs. Disco 2 rear dampers? I have a Bowler Tomcat sitting in storage which I'm told is based on Disco 1 suspension. Saw the Bilstein reservoir shocks on there and got some funny ideas about borrowing them.😉

The Disco 1 rear has pin fittings top and bottom. The Disco 2 rear has eyelet fittings top and bottom, the same as the T3.

I'm installing one of those lift kits from Finland and would rather use longer shocks than the shock extenders the vendor provided. My Syncro is a 16" so CV's shouldn't be a major issue.

MG

Mon Jul 28, 2014 6:42 am

Got it. Thanks!

Mon Jul 28, 2014 9:12 am

Hi,

Just a clarification request. You wrote m14 for shock bolt, I thought it was m12.

Cheers

Alistair

Mon Jul 28, 2014 9:30 am

ragnarhairybreeks wrote: Hi,

Just a clarification request. You wrote m14 for shock bolt, I thought it was m12.

Cheers

Alistair

Sorry, I meant M12.

Amended. Obviously a muppetry moment ;)

MG

Sat Aug 02, 2014 12:33 am

SyncroGhia wrote: As usual, when I find something that works, I try to let people know and here is another.

An easy swap over for the rear of the T3 Syncro is from the LandRover Discovery 2 (1998-2004).

The standard rear shock absorber is almost identical to the standard rear sock absorbers fitted to the T3 Syncro.
MG

How about the front struts?

Sat Aug 02, 2014 1:22 am

I'm still working on the front.

The spring is an odd size diameter so there are very few out there and similar to find a strut which has close enough dimensions to accept the Syncro spring so I'm now looking at complete struts with smaller diameter springs to try.

If I find something, I'll let you know...

MG

Sat Aug 02, 2014 1:24 am

I'm still working on the front.

The spring is an odd size diameter so there are very few out there and similar t to find strut which has close enough dimensions to accept the Syncro spring so I'm now looking at complete struts with smaller diameter springs to try.

If I find something, I'll let you know...

MG

Sat Aug 02, 2014 12:18 pm

SyncroGhia wrote: As usual, when I find something that works, I try to let people know and here is another....

the damping rates were compared...

If you put longer rear shock absorbers on, your rear CV joints will be able to move further than they were designed to by VW. I would suggest that if you want to go +2, you fit Porsche 944 CV joints...

Excellent info! The Disco and the Vanagon have very similar weight and GVWR, makes sense the shocks would have similar rates

and Ive been running the 944CV's for thousands of miles without issue. I like that they have more articulation, while retaining the stock stub axle and transaxle output flanges, so a stock axle can be used for replacement in a pinch

much respect for doing all the size comparisons and sharing your "Discovery" :-)

Sat Aug 02, 2014 6:29 pm

Any ideas on the perfect syncro 16 replacements? Any diff, or go with the +2?

Sat Aug 02, 2014 10:57 pm

Thanks Jon.

luVWagn wrote: Any ideas on the perfect syncro 16 replacements? Any diff, or go with the +2?

I would definitely go +2 if on a 16. Damping rate is a personal thing.

I would personally look for either foam cell or adjustable damping rate shocks.

MG

Sun Aug 03, 2014 3:43 am

I will show/offer u a high-end solution.
The absorber are fabricated in a italien factory espacialy for the t3 Syncro for longer springs from Busschmiede.de.

https://fotos.web.de/ui/external/MVdJe5CfQBCcWKLaWkkaBw96203

The price is 1500€ without springs.

Edit: the rear absorbers can be ajusted in pulling, pushing and frequency.
The front in pulling.

Sat Aug 09, 2014 5:39 pm

I am so interested in this topic that I contacted a local Koni stockist to find out what was available. There are two types of Koni adjustables available. A bit pricey, but I like the idea of adjusting the rebound setting . The Koni guy did however say that the stock length replacement for a Disco , a "heavy track" shock, was about 30mm too short for the t3 syncro fully extended. That means I would have to go for the "plus 30" in the real HD raid shock. Real expensive but also really stiff- bit worried about how stiff it would be. I am keen on trying their stock length heavy track shock but worried about the fully extended length. Does anyone know if Koni have different ways of measuring shocks or are they perhaps being a bit conservative with their fully extended measurement ? Ed.

Sat Aug 09, 2014 11:14 pm

Nice Discovery. 8) Thanks.

Sun Aug 10, 2014 12:06 am

t3 Ed wrote: I am so interested in this topic that I contacted a local Koni stockist to find out what was available. There are two types of Koni adjustables available. A bit pricey, but I like the idea of adjusting the rebound setting . The Koni guy did however say that the stock length replacement for a Disco , a "heavy track" shock, was about 30mm too short for the t3 syncro fully extended. That means I would have to go for the "plus 30" in the real HD raid shock. Real expensive but also really stiff- bit worried about how stiff it would be. I am keen on trying their stock length heavy track shock but worried about the fully extended length. Does anyone know if Koni have different ways of measuring shocks or are they perhaps being a bit conservative with their fully extended measurement ? Ed.

It's interesting that your Koni guy listed them as being short. Every Discovery 2 rear damper that I've seen and checked is identical (within a mm or so) to the T3 Syncro.

I haven't had a pair of Discovery 2 Koni rear dampers in my hands though as most Disco owners aren't prepared to pay that much.

MG

Sun Aug 10, 2014 2:33 am

Hi Eddie, I wonder if he is looking at 2wd specs? Mine had 2wd rear shocks on it when I bought it they where about 30mm short. Greg

Tue Aug 12, 2014 2:59 am

Might try check the specs again or if I have time , bring an original syncro shock to compare side by side. I had the Konis on my 2wd but never measured the difference between the 4wd & 2wd shocks, although I did notice the 2wd shock looked shorter. Ed.